Genesis 24
1 erat autem Abraham senex dierumque multorum et Dominus in cunctis benedixerat ei
Now Abraham was old and of many days. And the Lord had blessed him in all things.
2 dixitque ad servum seniorem domus suae qui praeerat omnibus quae habebat pone manum tuam subter femur meum
And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was in charge of all that he had: “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 ut adiurem te per Dominum Deum caeli et terrae ut non accipias uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananeorum inter quos habito
so that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
4 sed ad terram et ad cognationem meam proficiscaris et inde accipias uxorem filio meo Isaac
But that you will proceed to my land and kindred, and from there take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 respondit servus si noluerit mulier venire mecum in terram hanc num reducere debeo filium tuum ad locum de quo egressus es
The servant responded, “If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?”
6 dixit Abraham cave nequando reducas illuc filium meum
And Abraham said: “Beware that you never lead my son back to that place.
7 Dominus Deus caeli qui tulit me de domo patris mei et de terra nativitatis meae qui locutus est mihi et iuravit dicens semini tuo dabo terram hanc ipse mittet angelum suum coram te et accipies inde uxorem filio meo
The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ himself will send his Angel before you, and you will take from there a wife for my son.
8 sin autem noluerit mulier sequi te non teneberis iuramento filium tantum meum ne reducas illuc
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, you will not be held by the oath. Only do not lead my son back to that place.”
9 posuit ergo servus manum sub femore Abraham domini sui et iuravit illi super sermone hoc
Therefore, the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, and he swore to him on his word.
10 tulitque decem camelos de grege domini sui et abiit ex omnibus bonis eius portans secum profectusque perrexit Mesopotamiam ad urbem Nahor
And he took ten camels from his lord’s herd, and he went forth, carrying with him things from all of his goods. And he set out, and continued on, to the city of Nahor, in Mesopotamia.
11 cumque camelos fecisset accumbere extra oppidum iuxta puteum aquae vespere eo tempore quo solent mulieres egredi ad hauriendam aquam dixit
And when he had made the camels lie down outside of the town, near a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are accustomed to go out to draw water, he said:
12 Domine Deus domini mei Abraham occurre obsecro hodie mihi et fac misericordiam cum domino meo Abraham
“O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, meet with me today, I beg you, and show mercy to my lord Abraham.
13 ecce ego sto propter fontem aquae et filiae habitatorum huius civitatis egredientur ad hauriendam aquam
Behold, I stand near the fountain of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will go forth to draw water.
14 igitur puella cui ego dixero inclina hydriam tuam ut bibam et illa responderit bibe quin et camelis tuis dabo potum ipsa est quam praeparasti servo tuo Isaac et per hoc intellegam quod feceris misericordiam cum domino meo
Therefore, the girl to whom I will say, ‘Tip your pitcher, so that I may drink,’ and she will respond, ‘Drink. In fact, I will give your camels a drink also,’ the same one is she whom you have prepared for your servant Isaac. And by this, I will understand that you have shown mercy to my lord.”
15 necdum intra se verba conpleverat et ecce Rebecca egrediebatur filia Bathuel filii Melchae uxoris Nahor fratris Abraham habens hydriam in scapula
But he had not yet completed these words within himself, when, behold, Rebekah went out, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder.
16 puella decora nimis virgoque pulcherrima et incognita viro descenderat autem ad fontem et impleverat hydriam ac revertebatur
She was an exceedingly elegant girl, and a most beautiful virgin, and unknown by man. And she descended to the spring, and she filled her pitcher, and then was returning.
17 occurritque ei servus et ait pauxillum mihi ad sorbendum praebe aquae de hydria tua
And the servant ran to meet her, and he said, “Provide me with a little water to drink from your pitcher.”
18 quae respondit bibe domine mi celeriterque deposuit hydriam super ulnam suam et dedit ei potum
And she responded, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly brought down the pitcher on her arm, and she gave him a drink.
19 cumque ille bibisset adiecit quin et camelis tuis hauriam aquam donec cuncti bibant
And after he drank, she added, “In fact, I will draw water for your camels also, until they all drink.”
20 effundensque hydriam in canalibus recurrit ad puteum ut hauriret aquam et haustam omnibus camelis dedit
And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave it to all the camels.
21 ille autem contemplabatur eam tacitus scire volens utrum prosperum fecisset iter suum Dominus an non
But he was contemplating her silently, wanting to know whether the Lord had caused his journey to prosper or not
22 postquam ergo biberunt cameli protulit vir inaures aureas adpendentes siclos duos et armillas totidem pondo siclorum decem
Then, after the camels drank, the man took out gold earrings, weighing two shekels, and the same number of bracelets, ten shekels in weight.
23 dixitque ad eam cuius es filia indica mihi est in domo patris tui locus ad manendum
And he said to her: “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there any place in your father’s house to lodge?”
24 quae respondit filia Bathuelis sum filii Melchae quem peperit Nahor
She responded, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, to whom she gave birth for Nahor.”
25 et addidit dicens palearum quoque et faeni plurimum est apud nos et locus spatiosus ad manendum
And she continued, saying, “There is very much straw and hay with us, and a spacious place to stay.”
26 inclinavit se homo et adoravit Dominum
The man bowed himself down, and he adored the Lord,
27 dicens benedictus Dominus Deus domini mei Abraham qui non abstulit misericordiam et veritatem suam a domino meo et recto me itinere perduxit in domum fratris domini mei
saying, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has not taken away his mercy and truth from my lord, and who has led me on a direct journey to the house of the brother of my lord.”
28 cucurrit itaque puella et nuntiavit in domum matris suae omnia quae audierat
And so the girl ran, and she reported all that she had heard in the house of her mother.
29 habebat autem Rebecca fratrem nomine Laban qui festinus egressus est ad hominem ubi erat fons
Now Rebekah had a brother, named Laban, who went out quickly to the man, where the spring was.
30 cumque vidisset inaures et armillas in manibus sororis suae et audisset cuncta verba referentis haec locutus est mihi homo venit ad virum qui stabat iuxta camelos et propter fontem aquae
And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and he had heard all the words being repeated, “This is what the man spoke to me,” he came to the man who stood by the camels and near the spring of water,
31 dixitque ad eum ingredere benedicte Domini cur foris stas praeparavi domum et locum camelis
and he said to him: “Enter, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”
32 et introduxit eum hospitium ac destravit camelos deditque paleas et faenum et aquam ad lavandos pedes camelorum et virorum qui venerant cum eo
And he brought him into his guest quarters. And he unharnessed the camels, and he distributed straw and hay, and water to wash his feet and that of the men who arrived with him.
33 et adpositus est in conspectu eius panis qui ait non comedam donec loquar sermones meos respondit ei loquere
And bread was set out in his sight. But he said, “I will not eat, until I have spoken my words.” He answered him, “Speak.”
34 at ille servus inquit Abraham sum
Then he said: “I am the servant of Abraham.
35 et Dominus benedixit domino meo valde magnificatusque est et dedit ei oves et boves argentum et aurum servos et ancillas camelos et asinos
And the Lord has blessed my lord greatly, and he has become great. And he has given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and donkeys.
36 et peperit Sarra uxor domini mei filium domino meo in senectute sua deditque illi omnia quae habuerat
And Sarah, the wife of my lord, has given birth to a son for my lord in her old age, and he has given him all that he had.
37 et adiuravit me dominus meus dicens non accipies uxorem filio meo de filiabus Chananeorum in quorum terra habito
And my lord made me swear, saying: ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.
38 sed ad domum patris mei perges et de cognatione mea accipies uxorem filio meo
But you shall travel to my father’s house, and you shall take a wife of my own kindred for my son.’
39 ego vero respondi domino meo quid si noluerit venire mecum mulier
But truly, I answered my lord, ‘What if the woman is not willing to come with me?’
40 Dominus ait in cuius conspectu ambulo mittet angelum suum tecum et diriget viam tuam accipiesque uxorem filio meo de cognatione mea et de domo patris mei
‘The Lord,’ he said, ‘in whose sight I walk, will send his Angel with you, and he will direct your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my own kindred and from my father’s house.
41 innocens eris a maledictione mea cum veneris ad propinquos meos et non dederint tibi
But you will be innocent of my curse, if, when you will arrive at my close relatives, they will not grant this to you.’
42 veni ergo hodie ad fontem et dixi Domine Deus domini mei Abraham si direxisti viam meam in qua nunc ambulo
And so, today I arrived at the well of water, and I said: ‘O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, if you have directed my way, in which I now walk,
43 ecce sto iuxta fontem aquae et virgo quae egredietur ad hauriendam aquam audierit a me da mihi pauxillum aquae ad bibendum ex hydria tua
behold, I stand next to the well of water, and the virgin, who will go forth to draw water, will hear from me, “Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.”
44 et dixerit mihi et tu bibe et camelis tuis hauriam ipsa est mulier quam praeparavit Dominus filio domini mei
And she will say to me, “You drink, and I will also draw for your camels.” Let the same be the woman, whom the Lord has prepared for the son of my lord.’
45 dum haec mecum tacitus volverem apparuit Rebecca veniens cum hydria quam portabat in scapula descenditque ad fontem et hausit aquam et aio ad eam da mihi paululum bibere
And while I thought over these things silently within myself, Rebekah appeared, arriving with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder. And she descended to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Give me a little to drink.’
46 quae festina deposuit hydriam de umero et dixit mihi et tu bibe et camelis tuis potum tribuam bibi et adaquavit camelos
And she quickly let down the pitcher from her arm, and said to me, ‘You drink, and to your camels I will also distribute drinking water.’ I drank, and she watered the camels.
47 interrogavique eam et dixi cuius es filia quae respondit filia Bathuelis sum filii Nahor quem peperit illi Melcha suspendi itaque inaures ad ornandam faciem eius et armillas posui in manibus
And I questioned her, saying, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she responded, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ And so, I hung the earrings on her, to adorn her face, and I put the bracelets on her hands.
48 pronusque adoravi Dominum benedicens Domino Deo domini mei Abraham qui perduxisset me recto itinere ut sumerem filiam fratris domini mei filio eius
And falling prostrate, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has led me along the straight path so as to take the daughter of my lord’s brother to his son.
49 quam ob rem si facitis misericordiam et veritatem cum domino meo indicate mihi sin autem aliud placet et hoc dicite ut vadam ad dextram sive ad sinistram
For this reason, if you would act according to mercy and truth with my lord, tell me so. But if it pleases you otherwise, say that to me also, so that I may go either to the right, or to the left.”
50 responderunt Laban et Bathuel a Domino egressus est sermo non possumus extra placitum eius quicquam aliud tecum loqui
And Laban and Bethuel responded: “A word has proceeded from the Lord. We are not able to speak anything else to you, beyond what pleases him.
51 en Rebecca coram te est tolle eam et proficiscere et sit uxor filii domini tui sicut locutus est Dominus
Lo, Rebekah is in your sight. Take her and continue on, and let her be the wife of the son of your lord, just as the Lord has spoken.”
52 quod cum audisset puer Abraham adoravit in terra Dominum
When Abraham’s servant had heard this, falling down to the ground, he adored the Lord.
53 prolatisque vasis argenteis et aureis ac vestibus dedit ea Rebeccae pro munere fratribus quoque eius et matri dona obtulit
And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, as well as garments, he gave them to Rebekah as a tribute. Likewise, he offered gifts to her brothers and her mother.
54 initoque convivio vescentes pariter et bibentes manserunt ibi surgens autem mane locutus est puer dimittite me ut vadam ad dominum meum
And a banquet began, and they feasted and drank together, and they lodged there. And rising up in the morning, the servant said, “Release me, so that I may go to my lord.”
55 responderunt fratres eius et mater maneat puella saltem decem dies apud nos et postea proficiscetur
And her brothers and mother responded, “Let the girl remain for at least ten days with us, and after that, she will continue on.”
56 nolite ait me retinere quia Dominus direxit viam meam dimittite me ut pergam ad dominum meum
“Do not be willing,” he said, “to delay me, for the Lord has directed my way. Release me, so that I may journey to my lord.”
57 dixerunt vocemus puellam et quaeramus ipsius voluntatem
And they said, “Let us call the girl, and ask her will.”
58 cumque vocata venisset sciscitati sunt vis ire cum homine isto quae ait vadam
And when, having been called, she arrived, they wanted to know, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”
59 dimiserunt ergo eam et nutricem illius servumque Abraham et comites eius
Therefore, they released her and her nurse, and the servant of Abraham and his companions,
60 inprecantes prospera sorori suae atque dicentes soror nostra es crescas in mille milia et possideat semen tuum portas inimicorum suorum
wishing prosperity for their sister, by saying: “You are our sister. May you increase to thousands of thousands. And may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
61 igitur Rebecca et puellae illius ascensis camelis secutae sunt virum qui festinus revertebatur ad dominum suum
And so, Rebekah and her maids, riding upon camels, followed the man, who quickly returned to his lord.
62 eo tempore Isaac deambulabat per viam quae ducit ad puteum cuius nomen est Viventis et videntis habitabat enim in terra australi
Then, at the same time, Isaac was walking along the way that leads to the well, whose name is: ‘of the One who lives and who sees.’ For he dwelt in the southern land.
63 et egressus fuerat ad meditandum in agro inclinata iam die cumque levasset oculos vidit camelos venientes procul
And he had gone out to meditate in the field, as daylight was now declining. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels advancing from afar.
64 Rebecca quoque conspecto Isaac descendit de camelo
Likewise, Rebekah, having seen Isaac, descended from the camel.
65 et ait ad puerum quis est ille homo qui venit per agrum in occursum nobis dixit ei ipse est dominus meus at illa tollens cito pallium operuit se
And she said to the servant, “Who is that man who advances to meet us through the field?” And he said to her, “That is my lord.” And so, quickly taking up her cloak, she covered herself.
66 servus autem cuncta quae gesserat narravit Isaac
Then the servant explained to Isaac all that he had done.
67 qui introduxit eam in tabernaculum Sarrae matris suae et accepit uxorem et in tantum dilexit ut dolorem qui ex morte matris acciderat temperaret
And he led her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he accepted her as wife. And he loved her so very much, that it tempered the sorrow which befell him at his mother’s death.
